Paul Scholes has revealed that he played a “small part” in the signing of one Manchester United legend under former Red Devils manager Sir Alex Ferguson.
The 49-year-old Manchester United legend is widely regarded as one of the best midfielders of all time after a prolific playing career at Old Trafford.
Paul Scholes spent his entire playing career – across two different spells – under Sir Alex Ferguson after he rose through the ranks of the youth academy.
One of the famed ‘Class of ‘92’ members, Scholes became a linchpin midfield figure under Ferguson and had a sensational impact at Old Trafford.
The former United and England midfielder made a whopping 714 appearances for the Red Devils and Scholes scored 153 times for United.
During his time at Old Trafford, Scholes lifted 11 Premier League titles, two Champions League trophies, three FA Cups and two League Cups.
Scholes initially retired from football in 2011 before the United legend walked back on his retirement and returned for the Red Devils in 2012.
The ex-England international was part of the last United team to win a Premier League title in the 2012-13 campaign before he retired again in 2013.
Scholes on Ferguson signing Man Utd legend
Speaking on Football’s Greatest podcast, Paul Scholes recalled the time that Sir Alex Ferguson enlisted his services in the bid to bring Wayne Rooney to Old Trafford.
Wayne Rooney burst onto the scene at Everton under David Moyes and the Manchester United and England legend caught the eye of Ferguson.
The 39-year-old former United striker left Goodison Park in 2004 and Rooney completed a sensational move to Old Trafford as part of a deal worth £27m.
Scholes admitted it was a “weird” moment for him to chat to Rooney after Ferguson passed on his phone number due to them never speaking before.
“I was a small part of that actually because we played with Wayne for England and the manager asked me to ring him,” he told Football’s Greatest podcast co-host Nicky Butt.
“The manager sent me his phone number and [said], ‘I want to sign him,’ I rang him at home, it’s weird because I never spoke to him before, I’d only seen him for a day at England.
“I said, ‘Wazza, it’s Scholesy, the gaffa really wants you, he’s desperate to sign you, what do you think?’ He said, ‘Yeah, yeah, yeah, I’d love to come,’ straight away.”
Rooney snubbed Man Utd legend Scholes
Despite sharing the pitch with Scholes, Wayne Rooney snubbed his former United teammate in a conversation involving Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard.
“They’re all different,” he told Gary Neville on The Overlap in May.
“As an all-rounder, Stevie’s the best out of them.
“I think he could defend, pass the ball, run, tackle, score goals, set-pieces, so as an all-rounder, Stevie’s the best from that point of view.”
Rooney added: “All world-class players. I think Stevie could have come to United and be a top, top player, and almost do what Scholsey could do.
“Where I don’t think Scholsey could do what Stevie did at Liverpool.”
from United In Focus https://ift.tt/TFNERHk